The Moose Regatta 2008!

Start of one of Sunday’s races (picture courtesy of Chris Marchand)

Lisa Kremer coming into the first jibe buoy

Sunday morning skippers meeting

Kids race participants with their medals!

All the first place winners!

I love this picture from my bro Al. Sails from the windward mark to second jibe buoy.

Well we’ve just caught our breath from a busy month preparing and finishing up our annual windsurfing regatta “The Moose Regatta”. The regatta got its name from our annual summer festival the city puts on called Moosefest. 25 competitors battled it out over two days completing 8 races. This year was our 5th annual, and what a weekend it was starting with our Friday night welcoming party at the Riverview Lodge. The Lodge atmosphere is a great place to chill. We all shared laughs, stories and caught up with friends. Day 1 racing was forecasted as rainy and WINDY, and the forecast held true with side-off winds in the 18-27 knot range. It took us over 2hrs to set the committee boat (our sailboat) and set the course. Mike Fox and I did this all while in the rain and battering waves. I was pooped and drenched even before the racing started. With the late start, we had lunch before hitting the water for the day. Now from shore, the water looked nice and flat with strong gusts moving across the surface, but out on the water (when we set the course) it was a totally different look and feel. I told everyone during the skipper’s meeting, “whatever you’re thinking of rigging, make it 1.5m smaller”. So silly me, I take out my 9.5m sail and get smashed in the gusts…talk about not following my own advice! After 3 races we quit for the day to go dry off and get ready for our supper at the Pizzeria Italia Saturday night. Sunday morning saw bright blue sunny skies with straight offshore winds (very unusual for June) and an eager crew to get some racing in. We started the day with our ‘race around the islands’ where I scored a bullet on my trusty ol’ Superlite and 9.5m sail beating out Steve Johnson from Minneapolis area by just a few seconds. We had a great race together and changed positions a few times. (Note here: my superlite is 2-0 on the island race as Paul used it last year and won! haha). After the island race we got off 4 course races before stopping to get everyone to awards on time.
Much gratitude goes to those who made the trip to Dryden, even with the uncertain forecast. It shows that the Moose Regatta is much more than just racing. It’s about good friends, new and old, sharing good times together.
Full results here: Moose Regatta 2008
Picture Album in the works!
Stay Cool…